Bill 21 2003

An Act to amend
the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Act, 1997
in respect of
double-crested cormorants

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1. Section 5 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 is amended by adding the following subsections:

Limited exception, double-crested cormorants

(3) Despite clause (1) (e), a person may hunt double-crested cormorants from September 5 to the end of December in any year.

Hunting limitations

(4) A person hunting under subsection (3) shall not kill, capture or take into possession more than 10 double-crested cormorants on any day or more than 20 double-crested cormorants during the period mentioned in that subsection.

2. Subsection 7 (2) of the Act is amended by adding "double-crested cormorant" after "common grackle".

Commencement

3. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4. The short title of this Act is the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Amendment Act (Double-Crested Cormorants), 2003.

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 to permit the hunting of double-crested cormorants subject to specific restrictions. Section 1 of the Bill permits the hunting of double-crested cormorants from September 5 to the end of December in any year. It goes on to impose daily and seasonal limitations on the number of double-crested cormorants which may be hunted. Section 2 of the Bill makes it legal for a person to destroy, take or possess the nest or eggs of a double-crested cormorant.